High fuel efficiency can have a high value

Fuel efficiency is a hot topic in the world of automobiles these days, and for good reason.

In recent years, many very innovative advancements have been made by manufacturers and others involved in the industry to develop advanced ways to improve fuel efficiency through design, engineering and implementation of new and untraditional fuel sources and vehicle-powering combinations. Driving a vehicle with good fuel efficiency has many benefits, some of which affect you as an individual and others that benefit your local environment and the world at large.

Here are a few things you should know about fuel efficiency, and what you should keep in mind when on the market for your next vehicle.

What exactly is fuel efficiency?

Fuel efficiency is, technically speaking, the capacity of an engine to obtain energy from fuel. In reference to commercial motor vehicles, fuel efficiency essentially means how much fuel your engine consumes to operate your vehicle. It is generally measured in volume used over a specific distance. In the United States, fuel efficiency is most often measured and advertised in miles-per-gallon (MPG). Of course, the more miles you can travel per mile of fuel used, the better.

How does fuel efficiency work?

Fuel efficiency depends a great deal on the way a vehicle is engineered, designed and manufactured. The way the engine is built and functions can help or hinder fuel efficiency, as well as with how heavy your car is, its aerodynamics and other factors. It is also influenced by the type of fuel your vehicle runs on. For example, a car that runs on diesel fuel may have higher efficiency than one that runs on gasoline, and hybrid vehicles that supplement gasoline power with electricity to generate energy also help improve fuel efficiency.

Why should you factor fuel efficiency into vehicle choice?

The higher your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, the less you’re going to spend for fuel in comparison with traveling the same distance in the same conditions as a car that guzzles more gas. It may not seem like a lot at first, but if you keep track of how much less often you’re stopping for fuel and how much you’re paying when you do, you’ll likely notice a pretty substantial difference.

Driving a vehicle with higher fuel efficiency is also generally better for the environment. If you’re using less fuel, you’re reducing your carbon footprint. And since oil isn’t a renewable resource, you’ll be helping preserve what’s left of it underground by using less of it. Which means you’ll be playing a small part in lessening the environmental impact that comes with oil consumption and the ways in which oil itself is harvested.

At the end of the day (or trip, whichever comes first), a vehicle with a high fuel efficiency will help get you where you need to go while doing less damage to both your wallet and the environment when compared to less fuel-efficient cars. So why wouldn’t you at least consider fuel efficiency next time you’re looking for a new set of wheels?

Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA Today Network were not involved in the creation of this content.